Hairpin container



June 24, 1941. K. M. TYREE HAIRPIN CONTAINER Filed Jan. 17, 1940 MAW? wwwww E llil ll KATA 1.55m M. TYPE INVENTOR.

ATTO/P/V Y Patented June 24, 1941 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAIRPIN CONTAINER Kathleen M. Tyree, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application January 17, 1940, Serial No. 314,235

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a container for hairpins and other small articles particularly those of an edged or sharp pointed character.

When hair pins are loosely carried in a purse, hand bag or other ordinary container they are apt to injure the lining of the container or any puncturable articles, for example, handkerchiefs, contained therein. They are also apt to injure the fingers when articles are manually removed from a purse or bag wherein the hairpins are loosely contained.

By this invention a convenient, inexpensive hairpin container is provided which is constructed in such a manner as to keep the hair pins in an orderly position wherein they are conveniently accessible for manual removal, and where their points are properly guarded and kept out of contact with puncturable articles. Other objects, advantages and features of invention will hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates what is at present deemed to be a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the device shown in the open position and affording a view of the interior thereof.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on angular line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the ledge forming blank for the right (as viewed in Fig. l) wing of the container.

Fig. 4 is a detail of the rat-trap spring and hinge shaft.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the ledge forming blank for the left (as viewed in Fig. 1) wing of the container.

Fig. 6 is an inner face view of a cavitated sheet metal member which may be regarded as either of the wings of the container.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the container comprises two wings of rigid, sheet metal each having a body portion H) which is identical with that of the other. These wings are each of a cavitated or concavo-convex shape and are shown rounded at their ends and considerably longer than wide, and each has near one end a laterally extending ear 9.

The right (as viewed in Fig. 1) Wing has secured to the margin of its cavitated face an annular (though elongated) ledge forming strip ll of rigid sheet metal. The blank sheet metal strip llb of Fig. 3 embodies this strip previously to being shaped for attachment to the hinged section or half of the deviceof which it forms a part. It has two identical hinge forming ears,

12b (I 2 in Fig. 1), the material being cut away at l3 at each side of each of these ears to cause their base portions to be located at the mid width of that side portion of the strip from which they extend. The blank III) also has a slot lls through it positioned to register with one of the ears 9 when the parts are assembled. Also this blank is shown having a cross bar [4.

In Fig. 5 is shown a blank l6b which is of the same general size and shape as the blank shown in Fig. 3 except that its two extensions or ears Hb (ll in Fig. 1) are spaced nearer to each other than are the ears I211 of Fig. 3, this difference adapting the four ears to cooperate in the hinge ears shown in Fig. l.

The rat trap spring 20 and hinge pin 2| around which said spring is coiled make up the remaining portion of the structure, which is shown in an assembled condition in Fig. l. The details of this simple structure will be readily understood without further description except to state that the blanks of Figs. 3 and 5 are applied to the wings of the device by bending along the bend lines indicated at 23 and 24, thus forming retaining or gripping flanges 25 and 26; and in assembling the parts the ears 9 are brought into register with the slots provided for them before the flange portions are down bent to complete the assembled structure.

It will be understood that the torsional spring is arranged to close the wings of the container and normally maintain them closed.

When the assembled container is in the closed condition the ears 9 project from the free edge portions of the wings at a considerable distance from each other and hence are conveniently positioned for a thumb and finger engagement which facilitates the swinging of the wings to their open position.

A battery 30 of hair pins is shown within the container, their pointed ends underlying the inner edge portion of the guard flange 24 near one end thereof, while the opposite end portions of the pins are kept in place by the cross bar I 4 near the opposite end of the device.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the subject matter claimed.

I claim:

1. A container including twin sheet metal elongated wings of a concave character, hinge means whereby said wings are fastened together with their concave sides directed toward each other to form a housing space, a spring tending to close said wings, and a sheet metal annulus secured to each of said wings by having its outer portion downbent over the edge of the wing to which it is applied, each of said wings having an ear which projects through the applied annulus, said ears being spaced apart longitudinally of the device and being positioned to aiTord thumb and finger holds to facilitate the opening of said wings against the opposition of said spring.

2. In a container of the kind described, a wing structure comprising an elongated sheet metal member which is concave-convex in transverse section, a strip of rigid sheet metal shaped as an elongated annulus the mid width line of which corresponds in size and shape to the edge of said concave-convex member, said strip having a pair of ears positioned to form a. part of the hinge construction of the container, there being recesses in the strip adjacent to the bases of said ears, said ears being bent into hinge forming sleeves and said strip having its exterior portion bent into a flange whereby the strip is secured to the body portion of the aforesaid wing structure of which it forms a part.

KATHLEEN M. 'I'YREE. 

